Total Force Integration

Based on the F-16, the F-2 was designed to meet the unique requirements of the JASDF. Although capable of both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions, the F-2 emphasizes the air-to-surface role because its primary mission is the protection of Japan’s sea lanes.

The 90th FS (nicknamed Pair-O-Dice) was the first F-22 squadron in Alaska, receiving its advanced aircraft in 2007. The 525th FS (nicknamed Bulldogs) received their Raptors later the same year. In addition, the Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd FS (the Hellions) is an Associate unit that provides pilots and maintainers who fly and fix the aircraft alongside their active duty counterparts.

The thirty-sixth NATO deployment to secure air space over the Baltic States began on 1 September 2014 when four F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters of the Portuguese Air Force, or Força Aérea Portuguesa, landed at Šiauliai. The F-16s came from Esquadra 201 Falcoes (Falcons) and Esquadra 301 Jaguares, (Jaguars) at Monte Real AB in Portugal. The deployment ended in January 2015.

Joe Bill Dryden was a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, Class of '62. After retiring from the Air Force, Joe Bill became an experimental test pilot for General Dynamics. His experience with the F-16 began when he was selected to represent Tactical Air Command as one of the original members of the YF-16/YF-17 Lightweight Fighter Joint Test Team. He subsequently flew and helped develop various combinations of F-16 airframe, engine, wing, flight control system, and avionics. Joe Bill died on 24 May 1993 when his F-16 crashed in North Central Texas during a company acceptance flight.

three takeoffs and landings with hot pit refueling (ground refueling while the pilot remains in the cockpit with the engines running). The squadron began flying night missions in December 2013 and was flying them in March 2014 during the Code One visit.